Typographical composing machine



July 13, 1937. 'F J, LYNCH 2,086,67

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 28, 1931 F/Gl F/GZ F zs I6-+ $1 Q. Hf:.

FfiAHC/J J. LYNCH INVENTOR BY I ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 28, 1931, Serial No. 511,785 Renewed October 14, 1936 8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in typographical composing machines and more particularly to signaling devices for use with such machines. As is well known in the art of typographical composing machines, a distributor mechanism is employed to return the matrices to the magazines. The usual distributor mechanism comprises rotatable distributor shafts each provided with a screw thread for moving the matrices longitudinally of the shafts to distribute the same to their respective places in the magazines where they are stored until used again. The distributor shafts are connected directly or indirectly by means of a clutch to a suitable source of power which serves to rotate the shafts during normal operation of the mechanism. Due to various causes, such as worn or bent matrices, stoppages in said mechanism are of more or less frequent occurrence. The clutch then operates automatically to disconnect the distributor shafts from the source of power. In order to overcome or minimize difficulties due to stoppage of the mechanism, my invention embodies elements preferably adapted to be applied to existing typographical composing machines as of an attachment which includes any visible or audible signaling means which will serve to warn the operator or others of any stoppage in the distributor or any improper operation of the distributor mechanism preventing the return of the matrices to the magazines. My invention, while of simple construction, is adapted to Withstand the shocks and strain of constant operation of the composing machine and can be attached to and adapted to use with any of the well known standard typographical composing machines.

' It should be kept in mind that under business conditions today it is by no means unusual in large'establishments to have as many as fifty or l more composing machines in operation simultaneously. In such plants'the machines are usually arranged in a row with an aisle at the rear or in double rows, back to back, with an aisle between them. When a stoppage occurs the dis- *& tributor mechanism must be cleared from the rear of the machine and this would ordinarily require the operator to leave his position at the keyboard which is at the front of the machine. In large establishments this would result in fre- 50 quent moving about of many operators with con- 5 to have one person stationed in the aisle on the alert for stoppages and he, of course, is in a convenient position to proceed to the rear of any machine to rectify any trouble such as a stoppage in the distributor mechanism. It will be seen, therefore, that my invention is an improvement over any method now in use, since it provides an instantaneous signal, the use of which increases the efficiency of operation of composing rooms through the elimination of unnecessary movements by a multiplicity of operators and 10 reduces to a minimum the time during which the machines would ordinarily be out of operation.

Although my invention may be embodied in apparatus of any suitable form or construction, my 15 invention as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawing represents a preferred form thereof adapted to be attached to existing typographical composing machines and comprises a bridge-like structure or member which is mounted adjacent the distributor clutch, the said member being provided with means for opening and closing an electric circuit upon movement of the distributor clutch of the composing machine as hereinafter described. An electric lamp, supported by a standard, is mounted on the bridge member and is lighted by the opening or closing of the electric circuit, thereby providing a signal to the operator and to the mechanic whose duty it is to clear such stoppages.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l. is an elevation of the device as viewed from the front of the composing machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the device as viewed from the right hand side of the composing machine; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the spring mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

The bridge structure or member of the form of apparatus illustrated in the drawing may be of any suitable material but is preferably of metal and comprises an inverted U-shaped member having a leg I, a longer leg 2 and a cross bar 3. A standard 4 is arranged on the cross bar 3 and serves to support any signaling means, such as a lamp 5.

The lower end of the leg I is provided with an opening 6 shaped to conform to a bolt 1 so that when the inverted U-shaped member is in position on the composing machine it rests on said 5 bolt and is removably clamped thereon by means of a nut 8 at the rear of said machine.

The lower end of the leg 2 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 9, the extremity of which is formed with an inwardly curved surface 50 the leg 2.

l9 adapted to snugly engage with the distributor clutch H as hereinafter described. When the inverted U-shaped member is secured in position on the composing machine in the manner previ- 5 ously described the leg 2 is arranged at the front of said machine, the curved surface It engages the surface of the distributor clutch H and the shoulder 9 is adjacent a collar l2 which is held in position on said distributor clutch by a cap l3.

10 It will be seen that the shoulder 9, by means of the curved surface l0, aids in maintaining the inverted U-shaped member in its operative position.

A lever rod I4, preferably of metal, is movably l5 aflixed, as at E5, to one side of the leg 2 and extends upwardly for substantially the entire length of said leg. The lower end of the lever rod I4 is shaped to form an arm l6 arranged substantially at right angles to said rod. The arm I6 is 20 so arranged with respect to the shoulder 9 that said arm will project slightly beyond said shou1- der, and a, coiled springslfl-attached at one end to the armili and at its other end to the leg 2 serves to maintain said arm in its projected po- 5 sition while the distributor is returning the matrices to the magazines.

The leg 2 is providedwitha slot I 8 adjacent its upper end through which projects an arm l9 formed on the upper extremity of the lever rod 30 it, said arm being adapted to actuate a mercury switch 2b as hereinafter, described. The function of the mercury switch is tomake or break the electric circuit in a manner well known in the art of making and breaking such circuits, so as 35 to control the flow of current from its source to the lamp 5 or to any other signaling means which may be employed. The electric current tosaid signaling means is supplied through a circuit having a plug; connection of the usual type. In

the present arrangement the circuit isbroken at all times'except when completed bythe action of the mercury switch 28 which forms part of said circuitas hereinafter described. I

The mercury switch Zil, of known construction,

45 is supportedby a T-shaped' member 2|, and is removably secured thereto by any convenient means such as thebrackets 2-2. As illustrated in the drawing the switch is arranged with the end at which the circuit is completed-or broken adjacent The T-shapedmember 2! is suspended from the cross bar 3 by a yoke 23 which is. providedwith a removable cross'member 24 on which the T-shaped member 2| is mounted and which serves as a fulcrum forthe movement of the member 25 andthe mercury switch thereon.

The head 25 of the T-shaped member 2| projects toward the, slot l8to provide-a seat on which the arm l9 rests at alltimes- The head 25 inclines upwardly from left to right, viewed from 60 the-front of the composing machine, and while the distributor mechanism is functioning properly and the matrices are being returned to the. magazines the arm l9 rests on the left or lower extremity of the head 25.

65 Thecircuit comp-rises a source of current furnishing electricity to the conductor 26 which is attached to one side of the mercury switch 26. When the switch is closed passage of the current is permitted through the conductor 27 to the lamp .7 0 and back through the conductor 28 to the source lar l2 into contact with the end of the arm l6. This contact is sufficient to depress the end of said arm, the downward movement of which causes the rod E4 to move from left to right on its axis l5. Coacting with the rod I4, the arm l9 moves to the right or higher extremity of the head 25 of the T-shaped member 2|, thereby depressing said head and elevating the opposite end of the mercury switch 20 which is mounted on the member 2!. The mercury in said switch thereupon flows downward and completes the electric circuit, causing the lamp 5 to light.

The stoppage in the distributor mechanism is then cleared, the clutch readjusted to its operable position and the operation of the composing machine is resumed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the preferred form as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawing, as any modifications thereof may be accomplished without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The expressions abnormal movement of said clutch, and abnormal. stoppage of rotation as used in the claims are intended to refer to move,- ment of the clutch and stoppage of the distributor shafts which may take place as ayresult of improper operation of the machine due to displace, ment of a matrix or other faulty operation resulting in resistance to rotation of; the distributor 30 shafts.

I claim: r

1. In a typographical composing machinaqa U-shaped member including an-electricallyope erated signaling device, an electric circuit, .a switch controlling flow of. current through said circuit to said signaling. device, and" alever mounted on said u-shaped member: andauto,- maticallycontrolled by; the distributor mechanism of the machine to open or close said switch. 40

2. In. a typographical composing machine, a U-shaped member including asignaling device, an electriccircuit, aswitch member controlling flow of current through said circuit to said. signaling device and a lever mounted-on said U shaped member and adapted tobe operated:=by the clutch mechanism of the machine to open or close said switch member and thereby. operate said signaling device.

3. In combination, atypographic'al composing machine, an electrically operated 'signallingsdevice, an-electric circuit, a switch controlling the flow of current through said circuit to said signalling device, a distributor mechanism; a clutch mechanism including an element movable inzresponse to abnormally increased'resistance inthe distributor mechanism, and meansbetween the clutch mechanism andthe' switch and operable by said element in unison with disengaging movement of the clutch upon stoppage of the distrib- 0 utor mechanism to close the switch and, com-' plete the circuit through said signalling device.

4. The combination with a typographical composing machine of an electrically operated signaling' device comprising a signal, an electric circuit, a switch controlling flow of current through said circuit to' said signal, a;v collar mounted on and operated. by the distributor clutch of said machine, andarlever'rod mounted on said device and adapted at one end to operate .70 said switch upon being engaged at its:other end by said collar. 1

5. A- typographical composing machine having a distributor mechanism including a clutch mechanism with an element movable upon abnormally '15 increased resistance in the distributor mechanism, a member, a signalling device, an electric circuit, a switch controlling the flow of current through said circuit to said signalling device, and means mounted on said member and operable by the disengaging movement of said clutch in response to abnormal stoppage of the distributor mechanism to actuate said switch and thereby operate the signalling device.

6. A typographical composing machine having a distributor mechanism including a clutch mechanism with an element movable upon abnormally increased resistance in the distributor mechanism, a member, a signalling device, an electric circuit, a switch controlling the flow of current through said circuit to said signalling device, and a pivotal element on said member and movable about its pivot by movement of said clutch upon disengagement thereof due to a stoppage in said distributor mechanism, to close said switch and thereby operate the signalling device.

7. In combination, a typographical composing machine having rotatable distributor shafts, a

clutch mechanism with an element movable in response to abnormal resistance to rotation of the distributor shafts, an electric circuit, a signal controlled by said circuit, a normally open switch in said circuit, and means operable by the disengaging movement of the clutch when the distributor shafts are subjected to abnormal resistance to close the switch and complete the circuit through said signal.

8. In a typographical composing machine having a distributor mechanism, including a clutch movable into disengagement in response to abnormal resistance in the distributor mechanism, an electrically operated signalling device, an electric circuit, a switch controlling the flow of current through said circuit to said signalling device, and a pivotal element operable upon the disengaging movement of said clutch to actuate said switch and thereby operate said signalling device upon a stoppage in said distributor mechanism.

FRANCIS J. LYNCH. 

